Automobile and other lock



Feb. 27, 1934. v GILPlN 1,948,913

AUTOMOBILE AND OTHER LOCK Filed Feb. 18 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l #3 2. II 1 H r "1' WM {I a ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1934. v. 1.. GILPIN AUTOMOBILE AND OTHER LOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G T L. M

WITNESSES C5. 6 J.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 TES UNITED PATENT FFECE AUTOMOBILE AND OTHER LOCK 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looks, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a lock in which the locking element whether that be the bolt as it is customarily known, or other equivalent device, can be actuated either by a combination lock mechanism or by a key in a standard lock, both said mechanism and standard lock being incorporated in the main lock for optional alternate use according to molds later described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock of the foregoing character with an especial adaptation to use on motor vehicles for the purpose of locking the steering mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a perspective view of a part of an automobile instrument board illustrating the installation of the improved lock,

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the device about to be unlocked by means of the key, the steering post and its locking nut being omitted,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the unlocked position of the look as accomplished by the key,

Figure t is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating portions of the combination lock mechanism, particularly the mode of engagement of the tumbler pin with one of the tumbler disk projections,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the dial and its carried parts,

Figure 7 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the device about to be unlocked after working the combination lock mechanism.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Figure 9 is a detail cross section illustrating the locking position of the locking bar prior to the assumption of the positions in Figs. 2 and '7,

Figure 10 is a detail cross section taken on the line 1G10 of Fig. 8, illustrating the engagement of the heel of the actuator disk with the locking bar preparatory to turning the housing through a half revolution,

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line ll-l1 of Fig. 7 but illustrating the locking bar in the position it assumes when the locking bolt is released,

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on. the W line 12-42 of Fig. 2 illustrating the locking bolt in the engaging and releasing positions in full and dotted lines,

Figure 13 is a cross section of the switch housing taken on the line 1313 of Fig. '7,

Figure 14. is a perspective View of the eccentric and combination disk housing.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the locking bar and plunger, the parts being disassembled.

Many plans have been devised and put into eiiect for the purpose of locking motor vehicles so that they cannot be removed by unauthorized persons. Among the most popular of such locks are those that either control the ignition circuit or control the steering mechanism, or embody a combination of both controls. Thelock herein disclosed is of the latter type, but one of the outstanding ieatures resides in the dual control of the locking element and of the element that actuates the switch.

The description of the lock in connection with a motor vehicle is merely for the purpose of illustration of one use thereof. The dual control of the locking element, namely by means of a combination lock mechanism and a standard lock and key may be put to a wide variety of uses, in fact anywhere the function of the combination lock mechanism is desired to be suspended to a limited extent and the locking and unlocking functions are desired to be imposed upon the alternate standard lock and key.

Attention is directed to the drawings. A casing, generally designated 1, comprises a cylinder 2 in which the combination disk housing 3 (Fig. 14) is situated, and an extension 4 which contains the locking element or bolt 5. An oblong slot 6 at one end of the bolt (Fig. 12) receives an eccentric which protrudes from the housing 3 into the extension.

The housing 3 is revoluble to the extent of a half turn, the limits being indicated, for example, in Figs. 2 and 3. When at the left extremity of its turning movement (Figs. 2 and 12) the bolt 5 is in the engaging position, and when at the right extremity of its turning movement (dotted lines in Fig. 12) the bolt is in the releasing position. The other end of the bolt has a jaw 8 which is intended to grip a more or less common locking nut (Fig. l) on that portion of the steering post 9 traversing the extension 4.

A circular flange 10 in the cylinder 2 revolubly supports the housing 3, the latter having an annular shoulder 11 upon which the flange .2 of a locking ring 13 bears for the purposes of retaining the housing and coasting with the slot 14 of the locking bar 15. The ring 13 is secured in an annular recess 16 of the cylinder 2 by screws 17 or the like (Fig. 11), and thus constitutes a fixture upon the cylinder.

The locking bar occupies a passage 18 in ,the wall of the housing 3 both in the normally is spaced from the dial 20 by means of a segmental wall 21 (Fig. 8). The ultimate object of working the combination lock mechanism will be to bring a notch 22 in the periphery of the disk 19, together with notches 23 in a plurality of tumbler disks 24 into vertical alinement adjacent to the locking bar so that the latter can move into the groove formed by the alined notches and thus connect the disk 19 with the housing 3 for a half turn of the latter in the counter clockwise direction.

As already stated, the locking bar 15 ordinarily assumes the position in Fig. 9. It is pressed up against the underside of the dial 29 by a spring 25 that occupies a bore in the bar in common with a stud 26 between which and the inner end of the bore. the spring bears. The stud is carried by a plunger 27 which is slidable in a radial bore 28 in the housing 3. A pin 29 and spring 30 in the bore 31 of the plunger tend to move the plunger to the inner end of the radial bore 28 as in Fig. 7, but until the combination lock mechanism is worked until the notches 22 and 23 are alined into a groove this will not be possible, movement being prevented by the bearing of the locking bar against the edges of the tumbler disks 24.

The outer end of the pin 29 bears against the inner wall of the cylinder 2. It merely slips around on the wall when the housing 3 is given a half turn, or fractions thereof within the range of movement. Under the condition still assumed the actuator disk 19 is free to be turned. For this purpose the dial 20 is equipped with a knob 32. The locking bar remains stationed immediately beyond the periphery of the disk 19. The locking ring 13 has a slot 33 registering with and completing the passage 18.

It is only when the key 34 of a standard lock 35 incorporated in the knob 32 is used for the locking or unlocking of thedevice, that the slot 14 of the locking bar 15 will be lowered into registering position with the flange 12 of the locking ring. Under all other circumstances the locking bar will remain in the elevated position in Fig. 9.

A heel 36 (Figs. 6 and 8) adjoining the notch 22 in the disk 19 will engage the locking bar 15 at a side next to the lower end of a bevel 37 on the upper extremity of the locking bar (Fig. 10), preparatory to giving the housing 3 and the eccentric 7 the previously mentioned half turn in the counter clockwise direction. This presupposes the occupancy of the completed groove by the bar 15. The side of the disk 19 adjacent to the notch 22 is formed into a cam 38. The purpose of this cam is to drive the locking bar out of the groove upon reverse turning of the disk. Surmounting the embossed bottom 39 of a cylindrical chamber 40 in the housing 3 is a sleeve 41 upon which the tumbler disks 24 are assembled in alternation with rings 42. These rings have projections 43 (Figs. 5 and 11) which are not only fitted in respective ones of the series of numbered holes 44 in the tumbler disks, but also extend down far enough to touch (or nearly so) the disk next lowest. The embossed bottom 39 provides a sufiicient offset so that the lowest projection will not conflict with anything.

A spring wire ring 45, seated in a groove 46 near the upper end of the sleeve 41, keeps the tumbler disk assembly in place. A tumbler pin 47 projecting from the underside of the disk 19 (Figs. 5 and 6) is engageable with the projection of the uppermost ring 42 for the working of the combination. But normally this pin is held out of range of this projection by a spring 48 which bears up against a stub axle 49 depending from the disk 19 into the sleeve 41.

The upward movement of the disk 19 by action of the spring 48 is limited by the engagement of the rim of the dial 20 with a holding ring 50. The rim of the dial will ride against the flange of this ring, and a person uninitiated to the combination would obtain no response from the tumbler disks upon turning the knob 32. The latter must be pressed down against the tension of the spring 48 to bring the tumbler pin 47 within range of the upper projection 43.

Reverting now to the standard lock 35, it is observed in Figs. 1 and 2 that the key 34 is insertible in the slot of an eccentric cylinder 51 which, according to Figs. 4 and 8 includes a shank 52 to which a lever 53 is secured. The range of turning of the lever 53 by means of the key 34 is nearly a complete circle in respect to the dial 20. A stop 54 protruding from the underside of the dial limits the turning of the lever relatively to the dial. The lever occupies and turns in the space 55 between the disk 19 and lock 35. One lower side edge of the lever 53 is beveled at 56 (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8) for the purpose of riding upon the bevel 3'? of the locking bar 15, depressing that bar from the position in Fig. 9 to that in Fig. 2 so that the slot 14 will be lowered into registration with the flange 12 of the locking ring 13 and wedging between the locking bar and dial so that turning of the housing 3 is made possible regardless of the condition of the combination lock mechanism.

Turning of the lever 53 relatively to the dial 20 in the counter clockwise direction is limited by the engagement of the head of a groove 5'7 on the upper side of the lever with the stop 54. Relative turning in the opposite direction would be limited by the engagement of the back of the lever with i the stop 54. It is equally necessary to bear down while turning the key 34 in order to register the slot 14 with the flange l2. Otherwise the dial 29 would simply be revolved idly after the lever 53 has come to the end of its relative turning move- 1 ment in one direction or the other.

An axial stud 58 protrudes from the eccentric 7 through the bottom 59 and into a switch housing 60. The lower end of this housing is closed by an insulating disk 61 that carries contacts 62 which may be the terminals of an ignition or other circuit. An insulating hub 63 affixed to the stud 58 carries a contactor 64 which is engageable with the contacts to close the circuit when the eccenv look by means of the coml'oinationlock mechanism the key 34 will not be needed. When it is desired to undo the look by means of the key 34 alone, it makes no diiference what particular condition the combination lock mechanism may be in, the only requirement being to insert the key, bear down and give it a turn or so to the left when the element 5 will be shifted to the releasing position. First consider the device as a combination lock. The locking bar 15 assumes the position in Fig. 9 when the element 5 is locked in the engaging position. The elevated position is caused by the spring 25. The locking bar remains elevated and is not lowered more than a small amount as long as the device is treated as acombination lock. Hence registration of the slot 14 with the flange 12 of the locking ring 13 will never occur during operation of the device as a combination lock.

Press down upon and revolve the knob 32 of the dial 20. Downward pressure is necessary to bring the tumbler pin 47 into range of the projection 43 of the uppermost ring 42. The dial 20 has numbered calibrations (Fig. 1), the registration of a prearranged one of the calibrations with a fixed mark on the casing 1 after three or more turns of the knob 32 to the right, having caused the successive turning of the tumbler disks 24 until the notches 23 in each of these are alined vertically behind the locking bar 15.

Now turn the knob 32 to the left. The tumbler pin 47 will depart from the uppermost projection and leave the tumbler disks standing. As soon as the notch 22 of the actuator disk 19 assumes a vertical alinement with the notches 23, the locking bar 15 will snap inwardly into the completed groove under the action of the spring 30.

Heretofore the housing 3 was disconnected [from the actuator disk 19. The knob 32 could be revolved in either direction without affecting the housing 3. But now the housing 3 and disk 19 are splined together by the locking bar 15, and a further turn of the knob 32 to the left will cause turning of the housing 3 in unison with the disk 19 and the movement of the locking element 5 from the engaging position at the left (full lines in Fig. 12) to the releasing position at the right (dotted lines in Fig. 12). This is accomplished by the eccentric '7, and the limit of movement of the housing 3 and eccentric 7 is one half turn.

t would not do to turn the knob 32 to the right after the combination has been found. Assuming the locking bar to then be in the position in Fig. 8 it will be seen that a right turn would advance the cam 38 upon the locking bar and displace it from the groove produced by the manipulation of the combination mechanism.

, Of course in destroying the combination after reversely turning the knob 32 for the restoration of the locking element 5 to the locking position, the cam 38 would be advanced upon the locking bar to drive the latter back into the slot 33 of the locking ring where it stays as long as the device is locked.

Thus while serving the purposes of the combination lock mechanism the locking bar 15 is permitted to move inwardly into the groove built up by the notches 22 and 23 out of the passage 18 and slot 33 which it normally occupies, prior to a shifting in its position to the left from the position in Fig. 8 to that in Fig. 11. The latter range of movement agrees with the sliding of the element 5 to the releasing position.

Next consider the device as a key lock. The

function of the combination lock mechanismis now suspended with the exception of that of the locking bar 15. The latter plays an essential part in both instances. The problem remains the same, namely to produce a simultaneous turn of the housing 3 and disk 19 to the left or, what is the same thing, to give the eccentric 7 a half turn to the left in order to release the element 5. Insert the key 34 into the slot of the revoluble cylinder 51. Turn the key to the left. The key can be turned relatively to the dial and knob until the head of the groove 57 engages the stop 54 on the underside of the dial. Then the relative turning will cease and any further turning of the key will result in the turning of the dial.

Press down on the key while turning. Presently the cam 56 will meet the bevel 37 of the locking bar 15. The latter will be pressed down until the slot 14 registers with the flange 12. The parts now assume the position in Fig. 4. The earn 56 will be wedged between the end of the locking bar 15 and the underside of the dial 20. It is not possible for the lever 53,to pass over the locking bar because the depression of the latter is limited by the engagement of the lower end with the plunger 27, and the locking bar is of such a length that there is insufficient room between the dial and the upper end of the bar for the passage of the lever 53.

Thus the lever, or the cam 56 as previously stated, is wedged in position against the looking bar. This establishes a connection between the dial 20 and the housing 3. Continued turning of the key 34 will be possible for a half revolution of the housing 3, bringing the partsfro-m no the position in Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 3. The eccentric 7 will have slid the locking element 5 to the releasing position and the steering post 9 is capable of being turned.

Respecting the wedging action of the lever 53 n it is to be noted in particular that the shank 52 is situated eccentrically to the dial and housing. It is only when the lever 53 is swung to the limit of its outer movement respecting the space 55 (Fig. 4) that the wedging action occurs. It is to be borne' in mind that the wedging action can occur only when the operator is gripping and turning the key 34. Should he release the key and turn the dial 20, the key would be observed to partially rotate. This is caused by the lock- 12 ing bar 15 standing in the way of the lever 53.

It is the locking bar 15 that then obstructs the lever 53, and the relative turning of the shank 52 would cease when the end of the lever 53 has passed the locking bar. The lever 53 will assume a position other than that shown in Fig. 4 from then on, and will not conflict with the locking bar during the operation of the combination lock mechanism. It is only when the key 34 is used that connection of the lever 53 with the locking bar is established.

Another point to consider in the operation of the device by means of the key 34 is that the looking bar 15 always stays next to the wall of the cylinder 2. It remains stationary in the passage 18 and slot 33 until pressed down for registration of the slot 14 with the flange 12 and given a half turn to the position in Fig. 3. It is by this registration of the slot 14 and flange 12 that the combination lock mechanism is circumvented.

The locking bar is never permitted to recede into the groove in the disks 19 and 24 as long as th device is key-operated.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved lock isthat of a generally pre- 159 ferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A lock comprising a locking element, a. pair of individually movable members of which one is in working connection with the locking element, a locking bar, and means carried by one of said members for wedging the locking bar in position between said members for unitary movement of the latter.

2. A lockv comprising a locking element, a pair of individually movable members of which one is in working connection with the locking element, a locking bar, and means movably carried by one of said members being movable relatively to said one member for wedging the locking bar between said members for unitary movement of the latter.

3. A locking element, a locking bar, a pair of individually movable members of which one carries the locking bar and is in working connection with the locking element, and a standard lock carried by the second member of said pair I having means which is eccentrically movable relatively to said second member for reaching and wedging the locking bar in position between said members for unitary movement.

4. A locking element, a locking bar, a fixed locking ring having a flange with a slot occupied by the bar said bar having a slot out of registration with the flange, a pair of individually movable members of which one is free to move and the other is in immovable but working connection with the locking element said other member carrying the locking bar, and means carried by said one member for shifting the locking bar until the slots register and wedging the locking bar between said members for unitary movement of the latter.

5. A locking element, a locking bar having a slot, a fixed locking ring having a flange with a slot occupied by the bar, a pair of individually movable members of which one is free to move I and the other is in immovable but working connection with the locking element said other member carrying the locking bar, resilient means pressing the locking bar toward said one member so that its slot does not register with the flange, and a lever movable relatively to said one member having a cam to depress the locking bar until its slot registers with the flange and wedge the locking bar between said members for unitary movement.

6. A locking element, a locking bar having a slot, 9. fixed locking ring having a flange with a slot occupied by the bar but with which flange the slot in the bar does not register, a pair of individually and concentrically revoluble members of which one is free to revolve and the other is in working connection with the locking element and carries the locking bar thus preventing revolution, and a lever having a cam end being eccentrically turnable upon said one member into range of the locking barfor shifting the bar by the cam until the slots register and wedging the bar between said members for unitary revolution.

'7. A locking element, a locking bar, a pair of revoluble members of which one is freely revoluble and the other is temporarily stationary, said other member carrying the locking bar and being in working connection with the locking element, a key-operated lock carried by said one member and having an eccentrically located shank, a cam carried by the shank, and a stop on said one member with which the cam is engaged to revolve said one member by a key inserted in the lock until the cam binds against the locking bar, thus wedging the members together for unitary revolution of both upon further turning of the key.

8. A locking element, a plunger having a spring pressing it in one direction and having a locking bar, a pair of individually revoluble members of which one is freely revoluble and has a heel and the other is in working connection with. the locking element and has a bore receiving the plunger, and a combination lock mechanism situated between the members, normally holding the locking bar away from the heel against the tension of the spring but being workable by the freely revoluble member to permit shifting of the bar against the heel by means of said spring for unitary revolution of both members in one direction.

9. A locking element, a plunger having a spring pressing it in one direction and having a locking bar, a pair of individually revoluble members of which one is freely revoluble and has a heel with an adjoining cam and the other is in working connection with the locking element and has a bore receiving the plunger, and a combination lock mechanism normally holding the locking bar away from the heel against the tension of the spring but being workable by the freely revoluble member to permit shifting of the bar by the spring against the heel and cam.

10. A locking element, a plunger having a relatively movable but perpendicular locking bar with a bevel at the upper end, a concentric pair of individually revoluble members of which one is freely revoluble and the other is in working connection with the locking element and has a radial bore receiving the plunger, and a cam carried by and eccentrically movable upon said one member into range of said bevel, pressing upon the locking bar to wedge it against the plunger thus connecting said members for unitary revolution.

11. A lock cylinder and a locking element, a housing in working connection with the element being retained in the cylinder for turning, a sleeve on said housing carrying tumbler disks, a locking bar carried by the housing, a dial having an actuator disk with a stub axle revoluble in the sleeve and a notch beyond which the bar is held by said tumbler disks, a tumbler pin carried by the actuator disk for working the tumbler disks until notches therein aline with the aforesaid notch to form a groove, a holding ring on the cylinder, and a spring in the sleeve pressing upon the axle to keep the rim of the dial against said ring and the tumbler pin out of range of the tumbler disks.

12. A look comprising a locking element, a pair mally inactive respecting said actuating memtion lock mechanism standing in position to detain the locking device in the slot, said mechanism having notched elements operable to aline the notches and form a passage in registration with said opening, and means to displace the locking device from its slot into the alined opening and passage to connect the pair of members for unitary movement.

VICTOR L. GILPIN. 

